Mini screen pictures a production company that makes programmes for smart phones and tablets recently held a competition to find a winning script to be produced and directed and uploaded onto mobile technology. I entered the competition with a revised script of Miniature.

Feedback:

I like the idea which seems very fresh, but not really sure I understand it fully in terms of getting my head round the set up. But that’s possibly cause I’m not very good at reading scripts – I find it hard to picture. Was there a particular brief associated with this? – My sister.

The brief was to write an original script (no more than 10 minutes) in one of these genres – drama, supernatural crime thriller or comedy.

MINIATURE

by

Jennifer Farfort

2013

FADE IN

EXT. FIRE DOOR EXIT. SMALL THEATRE HALL. DAY

o/s male voice: Next

DAVID an eighteen year old boy smokes a cigarette. He wears a baseball cap, body-warmer, grey sweat shirt and matching tracksuit bottoms.

o/s male voice voice: Thank you. Mandy has your details.

A group of young people in garish costumes walk out of the main entrance towards the car park.

David watches them.

A girl dances and twirls ahead of her friends. Her exaggerated movements cause laughter amongst her friends.

David looks on while blowing smoke rings.

Stubbing out his cigarette he slips quietly back inside the hall.

INT. SMALL THEATRE HALL. DAY

The hall is sparse and medium sized. Orange curtains drape the sides of the stage. Stage lights shine brightly.

Cut to

A man in his late 50s called STEVEN and two girls who are of similar age to David seated away from the stage. They are in charge of the auditions.

Cut to

BRIAN a man in his late 50s standing near the back of the hall. He wears a three piece suit, and a Crombie overcoat. He looks over to David.

BRIAN

Everything ok David.

DAVID

All clear Brian.

Cut to

Steven who is rubbing his eyes

STEVEN

Next

Pause

Next

Pause

Cut to

Brian as he looks to the side of the stage. He nods his head.

NEX…..

A group of males, and females in their early to mid twenties hurl onto the stage as if they have been suddenly pushed.

We can hear the sounds of their low, heavy panting breath.

Cut to

CARLA who is seated next to Steven. She has bobbed, brunette hair. She is drawing in a sketch book

STEVEN(looking at the group)

And you are the ..erm

(He scrabbles desperately at his notes.)

oh um I’m afraid i’ve mislaid your name

(He looks at them for an answer then looks over to Carla. She is drawing a doodle of the dancers.)

Carla. What’s their name?

(She shakes her head, and shows him her drawing then passes it to SARAH who is sitting on the other side of Steven. Sarah is looking at the ends of her long hair.)

The notebook depicts gangly arms and legs.

o/s music

An unidentified tinny Broadway tune kicks in and crackles around the hall.

STEVEN

Oh ..ok well let’s carry on then.

The dancers faces look waxen as they stare back at him with fear and confusion.

We’re ready. We do have other people to see.(sing song irritated voice)

The dancers start to dance and sway slowly.

Steven crosses his arms and looks unimpressed.

Cut to

Dancer’s feet as they start to tap dance a bit faster before picking up speed.

Cut to

Carla as she draws faster with each movement of the dancers legs. She adds bulging eyes to their scrawled, scared faces.

Steven peers over at her drawing and back to the dancers.

Cut to

Their legs as they start to soar into a big high-kicking number.

Impressed he makes notes.

Panic is etched on the dancers faces.

Cut to

BRIAN

(misty eyed)

Wonderful just wonderful….see..it’s coming together. I knew it would. What do ya think David?.

Cut to

Sarah as she watches Brian.

BRIAN

(angry hushed tones)

David. Come back..You’re not ready yet.

DAVID

I’m ready now

BRIAN

Get back ere.

David walks down the side of the hall towards the side of the stage.

Sarah watches him as he goes past. They both look at each other.

He goes behind the curtain.

Cut to

The back of the stage.

We see a long rod hooked and threaded through the dancer’s costumes.

It is coiled tightly along their backs holding them all together.

As we go along the stage we see IAN. He is also eighteen. He has sandy blonde hair and has the look of determination in his face.

Ian manipulates the rod twisting, and turning it making the dancers move in time.

Sounds of their tap dancing feet gets louder and heavier.

David also starts to hold onto the rod.

IAN

Oi gerroff. Leave it ya prick. GERROFF.

DAVID

It’s better like this….see. Look it’s better

They start to struggle with the rod.

Brian said I’m ready.

IAN

Bollocks

David moves the rod too fast. They jostle losing control of the rhythm